Three Saudi nationals fined R2 million for stealing indegenous plants

Three Saudi Arabian nationals have been ordered to pay R2 million at the Vredendal Regional Court after they entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state. The three suspects, aged between 25 and 50, were among the six males arrested on October 10, 2022, in Cape Town for possession of flora without documentation and money laundering. They were ordered to pay a fine of R2m in the Vredendal Regional Court on November 1, 2022.

According to the report, the alleged six suspects were confined following a tip to the police members on the border of Western Cape.

Three ordered to pay R2 Million, case provisionally withdrawn for the others

“They spotted the suspicious vehicle on the N7 highway driving at a high speed near Bitterfontein and stopped and searched the occupants and the vehicle,” said Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi.   During the search, police found a number of bags containing flora. They then confiscated the seeds before arresting and detaining the suspects on charges of possession of flora without the necessary documentation and money laundering. The case against the remaining three males who were recruited to assist was provisionally withdrawn in court.

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